Window to Egypt: An introduction to El Quseir

The Red Sea city of El (or Al) Quseir may not be as well-known as Giza or Luxor, but it rivals both in antiquity. A crucial port for the ancient Pharaohs, modern visitors are greeted by a charming jumble of buildings from various points in its 5,000-year history.

Only in Egypt could a city as fascinating and important as El Quseir be almost overlooked by tourists. Drawn by photo opportunities at the Pyramids, many visitors spend their time in Egypt unaware of El Quseir's existence, keeping it firmly off the beaten track and reserved for those who are truly set on discovering its numerous secrets.

If you're interested on finding out more about the city's past, present and future, here's a comprehensive overview of the White Port.

Dig deeper into the city's lengthy backstory before you arrive with the Al Quseir guide, a detailed website that informs visitors on the best things to see, do and eat in El Quseir. It's also a great place to look into scuba diving, if you're planning on venturing into the Red Sea during your stay, as it talks you through popular dive sites like the Big and Little Brother Islands and the bay of Marsa Wizri.

They recommend heading to the Visitor's Center in the Fort to find out more about El Quseir's development as a port through the Pharoahic, Roman and medieval eras, and explores its current environmental and archeological aims. After you've picked up enough background information to pique your interest, you can decide which sites need to feature on your itinerary.

Once you know the areas you'd like to visit, check out Tour Egypt. Along with insider tips on general topics like beaches, shopping, transport and climate, they have an in-depth exploration of El Quseir itself, complementing their tour of the area.

Read all about the fabled expedition to the mystical land of Punt ordered by Queen Hatshepsut, and the importance of Quseir's proximity to the Nile via Wadi Hammamat. Today, the Wadi has become a popular site among both historians and tourists thanks to the hundreds of hieroglyphics carved into the ancient quarry walls, some of which date back to 4000 BC.

Now that you've learned all about Queen Hatshepsut, you can spend a day touring her magnificent burial grounds with a day trip to the Valley of the Kings. Although the place name misleadingly neglects to include 'and Queens', her mortuary temple is one of the finest, although it's not currently open to visitors.

However, you can tour fifteen of the temples, including those built for Rameses I and Tutankhamun. Pro Tours can pick you up from our Radisson Blu Resort El Quseir and drive you straight to Luxor, where an expert guide will show you around the fabled sites.

Marsa Alam to guide you around the Ottoman Fort, built by Sultan Selim in 1517. Narrating the story of the Fort's survival through French invasion and British onslaughts, you can see the legacy of these battles for yourself – imposing cannons line the battered ancient walls. With Marsa Alam's limousine service you'll be dropped off at the gates after lunch and can spend the afternoon exploring before your driver arrives to collect you at sunset.